PENNSYLVANIA NAACP TO HOLD JULY 24 RALLY AT STATE CAPITOL IN HARRISBURG IN OPPOSTION OF VOTER ID LAW

PENNSYLVANIA NAACP TO HOLD JULY 24 RALLY AT

STATE CAPITOL IN HARRISBURG IN OPPOSTION OF VOTER ID LAW

     Philadelphia ---Thousands of people from throughout Pennsylvania are expected to attend the Pennsylvania NAACP’s  (Pa. NAACP) “Rally for Justice” on Tuesday, July 24, 1 PM, at the State Capitol in Harrisburg to protest the Commonwealth’s new Voter ID law.
 
     Organizations representing a variety of Pennsylvania’s citizens will be speaking at the rally.
 
     Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett signed the Voter ID bill into law in March. Starting with the upcoming November 6^th general election,  voters will be required to show an acceptable photo ID to vote on a voting machine.  All photo IDs must contain an expiration date that is current, unless noted otherwise.
 
     Voting rights advocates says the Voter ID law will disenfranchise the poor, elderly, senior citizens and minorities, who are less likely to have the photo IDs. They are demanding that Corbett and the Legislature postpone implementation of the law. The Pa. NAACP believes the law is a voter suppression measure and wants to law struck down by the courts.  

The Rally for Justice comes in the wake of the disclosure earlier this month by the Pennsylvania Department of State that 758,939 registered voters statewide do not have a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation-issued driver's license or state-issued non-driver ID. Those voters, more than eight percent of all 8.2 million registered voters statewide, are at risk of being unable to vote in the November 6 election.

At least two lawsuits challenging the law are pending in Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.  A trial on the lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union is scheduled to start July 25 in Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania NAACP officials are available for interviews in the days leading up to the rally and on the day of the rally itself. 

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WHAT:  Pennsylvania NAACP-led Rally for Justice against Pennsylvania Voter ID law.   
 

WHEN: Tuesday, July 24, 2012   1 PM Eastern Time  

(Rally participants to start arriving at 10 AM ET, Speeches/formal program to start approximately 1 PM ET. Entire rally will be finished by approximately 3 PM ET)
 
                  

WHERE: State Capitol, Third and State Streets, Harrisburg, Pa. 17101

 
(NOTE: All media are asked to check-in at the media table to receive a press credential.  A designated media area will be provided. Mult- boxes will be provided. Media outlets  wanting on-street parking for their vehicles may contact the Capitol Police Communications Center at 717-787-3119 to make arrangements. All media parking locations will be determined by Capitol Police.
 
WHO: Confirmed speakers as of July 17, 2012 (list subject to change):     
             
Pa. AFL-CIO Pres. Richard Bloomingdale;  Pa. AFSCME Council 13 Exec. Dir. David Fillman; Pa. NAACP Pres. Jerry Mondesire; Interdenominational Ministers Conference of Greater Harrisburg Pres. Bishop A.E. Sullivan; Pa. SEIU Local 668 Secretary-Treasurer G. Roni Green; Pa. Legislative Black Caucus Chairman St. Rep. Ronald Waters (Philadelphia);  AARP Pennsylvania State Director Ivonne Gutierrez Bucher;  Pa. Statewide Coalition of Black Clergy Dr. Robert P. Shine Sr., Pa. State Sen. Daylin Leach (Delaware and Montgomery counties);  Pa. State Sen. Leanna Washington (Philadelphia),  Rev. David Alexander Bullock,  Rainbow PUSH Detroit Chapter/State Coordinator (helped fight against Michigan’s Voter ID law), United Steel Workers International Vice President (Human Affairs)  Fred Redmond, Paula Peebles, Chairperson, Philadelphia National Action Network.